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The 3rd Asia-Pacific NGO Environmental Conference
Kyoto Declaration towards Cooperation among Environmental NGOs and Sharing of its Outcomes in the Asia-Pacific Region
We, NGO's leaders, environmental researchers, educational experts, lawyers, and citizens working internationally and/or locally in 16 countries/areas in the Asia-Pacific region have gathered for the Third Asia-Pacific NGO Environmental Conference held in Kyoto, where the 1200th anniversary for the establishment of the capital is being celebrated, in response to the call by the Japan Environmental Council, the Siam Environment Club, and the Seoul Environmental Club, and have discussed a variety of environmental issues at the plenary sessions and sub-sessions during the whole two days of the 18th and 19th of November 1994. The presentations and discussions have covered a wide range of environmental issues, including the present and future situation of environment and environmental policies, international and global environmental problems, development and environment, NGO's activities, and the present stage of the environment in each country in the Asia-Pacific region. Above all, we have examined and recognized the following from a NGO's viewpoint:
1. The Southeast and East Asian region called the growth center of the world, is now facing various environmental problems, as the consequence of its economic growth. Although the types and the severity differ from country to country, industrial pollution such as air pollution and water pollution has damaged human health. Urban problems due to cars and wastes as well as excessive concentration of population have led to a functional disorder of cities. Logging of forests and inappropriate development of coastal areas have destroyed nature. Erosion of traditional lifestyle and communities has resulted in aggravation of living environment and a great loss in amenity. These environmental problems, however, have been neither fully addressed nor adequately controlled, although they have been partly discussed at this conference.
2. These environmental issues are not only related to economic policies and industrial policies of each country/area but also closely connected with the economic linkage among countries/areas. Therefore, any sound environmental policies have to be developed in full consideration of this mutual dependence in the international economy as well as the economic and industrial policies of each country/area.
3. This region with its intensive economic activities has resulted in severe impacts on the global environment. This conference has recognized the seriousness of the devastation of tropical rainforests and the decreasing biodiversity in this region, as reported in the sub-sessions. Critical review of responses and measures taken by each government is needed for further development of environmental policy.
4. The great discrepancy in the level of economic development among different countries/areas has created an appearance of differences in environmental problems and environmental policies. However, in reality, the roots of the problems lie in the lack of environmental considerations in development approaches. It is imperative to establish a system which urges each country to pay environmental costs depending on its responsibility, and to make a framework for international cooperation which aims at establishment of adequate environmental policies.
5. It is recognized that environmental legislation in each country has developed to a certain level, but still legal instruments necessary to achieve the global of environmental conservation and protection are not yet adequately implemented or the legal system itself does not function property. Therefore, it is necessary to establish closer cooperation towards full understanding of the current state of legal systems and the improvement of them.
6. One of effective means to contribute to the solution of these problems is to exchange information and experiences among NGOs conducting research and actions in a variety of environmental fields, and to take actions in close cooperation, whenever necessary.
In recognition of the above situation, we resolve that:
1. For the purpose of promoting information exchange and international cooperation among different countries/areas in the Asia-Pacific region with special reference to the East, Southeast, and South Asian countries/areas, a permanent organization should be established.
(1) Accordingly, the Asia-Pacific NGO Environmental Council (abbreviated as the Asia Environmental Council: AEC) is established, today.
(2) AEC shall have a board that would govern and direct its activities.
(3) AEC shall have a secretariat and centers such as a center for environmental studies and a center for environmental education. The AEC Board shall take a decision on the establishment of future centers in response to proposal. General rules concerning the AEC Board, other related organizations and activities shall be set in accordance with a separate memorandum.
(4) The AEC Secretariat shall be established in Seoul, Korea, for the initial period of 5 years. The establishment of the Secretariat shall be entrusted to the Seoul Environmental Club. After 5 years, the Board shall decide on the future location of the secretariat.
(5) The Center for Environmental Studies shall be established in Tokyo, Japan. The establishment of the Center shall be entrusted to the Japan Environmental Council. The Center for Environmental Education shall be set in Bangkok, Thailand. The establishment of the Center shall be entrusted to the Siam Environment Club.
(6) The First General Assembly which determines the policy and direction of the AEC shall be held in June 1995 in Seoul, Korea, to celebrate its establishment.
2. The AEC shall work towards preparation and publication of "The State of the Environment in Asia" based on surveys and studies including collection, summarization and analysis of information of the state of environment in each country in the Asia-Pacific region with special reference to the East Southeast, and South Asian countries/areas. In order to achieve this goal, workshops may be held periodically as appropriate.
3. The Fourth Asia-Pacific NGO Environmental Conference will be held in 1996 at Singapore.